0:00:03 > 0:00:08All over the world hundreds and thousands of people are fighting a hidden war.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11Oh, my gosh!
0:00:11 > 0:00:14The outcome of which could affect us all.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17It's the war against drugs.
0:00:20 > 0:00:24In this series I travel to the front line of this conflict
0:00:24 > 0:00:25over three continents.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32I've travelled to Peru, a country that has now replaced Colombia
0:00:32 > 0:00:35as the world's number one coca producer.
0:00:35 > 0:00:37I visited Thailand.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39This is the Yaba?
0:00:39 > 0:00:42And discovered a drug destroying a generation.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47Tonight, I'm investigating the struggle
0:00:47 > 0:00:49to keep drugs out of the West,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53so I'm heading to Ukraine, on the far eastern edge of Europe.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56It's absolutely amazing that they were able to seize
0:00:56 > 0:00:59over a tonne of cocaine in one swoop.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03I discover the tricks used by traffickers to smuggle drugs.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05They're so clever.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08All you have to do is take it apart
0:01:08 > 0:01:10and there was loads of cocaine stuffed in these pineapples.
0:01:10 > 0:01:15I investigate the security in place to stop drug trafficking.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17We focus on results.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20But you haven't had any results. That's the problem, isn't it?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23You haven't found any cocaine or any heroin?
0:01:23 > 0:01:28I meet some unlikely activists trying to make a difference.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29I'm chasing Darth Vader.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31Another day at the office!
0:01:34 > 0:01:37And I reveal that a highly dangerous new drug...
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- They're going to inject?- Yes! Oh, God! They're going to inject.
0:01:42 > 0:01:45..could be on its way to Britain.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48The longer we spend in here, the more grim it becomes, to be honest.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Situated on Europe's eastern edge,
0:01:59 > 0:02:04Ukraine is one of Europe's largest, but least known countries.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08It's famous for its beautiful summers, dome churches
0:02:08 > 0:02:10and glamorous women.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20But I'm here to investigate its new reputation
0:02:20 > 0:02:25as a new frontier for trafficking illegal drugs into Europe.
0:02:26 > 0:02:28So here I am in Odessa.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30I've come to this particular part of Ukraine
0:02:30 > 0:02:33because the European Union have come out and said
0:02:33 > 0:02:36very openly recently that this is a new hotspot,
0:02:36 > 0:02:38it's a new entry to smuggle cocaine into Europe
0:02:38 > 0:02:40and, effectively, the UK.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44It's a big statement and I've come to see what it's all about.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Odessa lies on the Black Sea on Ukraine's southern coast.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53My first stop is the port.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56As the largest in the country,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58and one of the busiest in Eastern Europe,
0:02:58 > 0:03:04Odessa port is Ukraine's front line in the war against international drug trafficking.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08In recent years cartels have been smuggling
0:03:08 > 0:03:11cocaine from South America to Western Europe through this port.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16I want to know why they have been taking this 2,000-mile detour.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21I'm heading into the port now to find out more about these
0:03:21 > 0:03:24cocaine seizures here in Odessa and I've arranged to speak
0:03:24 > 0:03:26to somebody who works with the Intelligence Service and
0:03:26 > 0:03:30he himself was actually personally involved in one of the bigger busts.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32He's still a serving agent, however,
0:03:32 > 0:03:36so we're under strict instructions to disguise his face.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43First up, the agent shows me extraordinary footage,
0:03:43 > 0:03:49shot by his team in 2010, of a huge cocaine seizure.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53There's just stacks and stacks and stacks of packed cocaine.
0:03:54 > 0:04:001.2 tonnes was found hidden inside a shipment of industrial furnaces,
0:04:00 > 0:04:04the largest ever cocaine haul in Eastern Europe.
0:04:05 > 0:04:09They're very clever, aren't they? They think of anything,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13they think of things that the normal person would never even imagine.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24I mean, having a look at this just gives you an idea
0:04:24 > 0:04:29of the lengths that these guys have gone to to try and hide this cocaine.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Where do you think it was heading?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47The agent takes me to the spot where he discovered the cocaine.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51What was the street value of that single seizure that you got?
0:04:58 > 0:05:02Wow! 180 million US dollars.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- That's about 120 million sterling... - Yes.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- ..worth of cocaine.- Yes.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- Coming to your port.- Yes.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20It's absolutely amazing to think that they were able to seize
0:05:20 > 0:05:24over a tonne of cocaine in one swoop.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28If you think that it's estimated that over 30 tonnes come into the UK
0:05:28 > 0:05:32every year, that gives you an idea of just how huge a deal this was.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35And he went to say, you know, if you took all the cocaine out
0:05:35 > 0:05:39of the furnaces and stacked the packages one on top of the other,
0:05:39 > 0:05:43it would fill about a third of one of these massive containers.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45It's huge.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50As smugglers use cargos of all shapes and sizes,
0:05:50 > 0:05:55for the port it's a constant battle against drug trafficking.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58I've been working in customs since 2003.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03Customs officer Artem reveals that drugs are hidden in the most unlikely places.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08There were pineapples which were
0:06:08 > 0:06:11filled in with cocaine parcels.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14With a mock up, he shows me how the drugs were hidden.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17And that looks like a pretty standard pineapple to me.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Where was the cocaine exactly?
0:06:19 > 0:06:22The pineapple was cut apart.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27The pineapple was excavated and the parcel of drugs was put in.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31- That's incredible. Can I see?- Yes.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36I wouldn't in a million years think that that looks suspicious at all.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39All you have to do is take it apart
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and there was loads of cocaine stuffed in these pineapples.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44It's so clever, so resourceful.
0:06:46 > 0:06:50Artem's colleagues detected the drugs, after the cargo
0:06:50 > 0:06:52was put through an X-ray scanning machine.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55It shows very, very clearly
0:06:55 > 0:06:59there's sort of two green blobs, if you like.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02That suggests that there's something in there that you would need
0:07:02 > 0:07:04to have a look at if you work in customs.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07This is your first seizure of cocaine.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09I've found my first seizure.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12- You've can work as customs officer. - Oh, I dunno.
0:07:13 > 0:07:18What I do want to know is how often containers are inspected closely.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24According to our statistics we check up to 5% with scan
0:07:24 > 0:07:27and physical examination.
0:07:27 > 0:07:34Lots of people under 5% will sound like an incredibly low percentage.
0:07:34 > 0:07:39I don't think so because it is an international practice up to 5%
0:07:39 > 0:07:43because we use the system always.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47It's fair to say then around 95% of shipping containers that
0:07:47 > 0:07:51come into Odessa port are not physically checked or scanned?
0:07:51 > 0:07:53- Only in Odessa port. - In Odessa port, exactly.
0:07:53 > 0:07:57They may be checked in the whole territory of Ukraine.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01But your responsibility is Odessa port, isn't it? Yes.
0:08:01 > 0:08:02Yep. OK.
0:08:02 > 0:08:07The EU have said that Odessa is a new entry point for cocaine
0:08:07 > 0:08:11coming in to Western Europe. Do you agree with that?
0:08:11 > 0:08:15I can tell you that they wanted to try this route
0:08:15 > 0:08:17but they will stop here.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22So you believe that no cocaine is getting through Odessa's port?
0:08:22 > 0:08:27To my professional opinion, I think we are ready to detect.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29I'm surprised by Artem's confidence.
0:08:29 > 0:08:33- Thank you. Thank you, sir. - Bye.- Thank you.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Although the EU have poured tens of millions of pounds
0:08:36 > 0:08:39into beefing up border checks around Odessa port,
0:08:39 > 0:08:45roughly 95,000 out of the 100,000 containers arriving in 2012
0:08:45 > 0:08:48were not inspected closely.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56What's more, I then discover the port could be facing
0:08:56 > 0:08:58an even bigger problem.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03A bit of a weird situation going on at the minute.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Somebody who actually works here at the port
0:09:05 > 0:09:08has said that he wants to speak to us about the corruption that's going on here.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12He can't talk now, can't speak here but we've swapped numbers
0:09:12 > 0:09:14and it's very interesting to follow that through.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21I arrange to talk to this man that night.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Worried about losing his job, he asks us to disguise his identity.
0:09:26 > 0:09:31He tells me about his experiences of clearing cargos through customs.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- TRANSLATION:- Of course, corruption exists in the port.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Even if the cargo is completely legitimate,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40you won't get through customs without hand-outs.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42It's called gratitude.
0:09:42 > 0:09:47And does this always go on or does it happen every now and then?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50It's very typical.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Everyone gives them money, otherwise your next cargo won't get through.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02And if the corruption is as rife as you're sat here saying it is,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05how come you haven't got involved?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Not involved? We all give hand-outs.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12I'm not even angry at those customs officers
0:10:12 > 0:10:15because they have to pass on the money to people above them.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22You yourself have paid customs officials in the past?
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I think you know the answer to that question.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30He then reveals some important information about one
0:10:30 > 0:10:33of the scanning machines at the port.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39- TRANSLATION:- Around six months ago, there was a traffic accident
0:10:39 > 0:10:41at the port involving the scanner.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44Since then, it hasn't been working.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47And so are you saying that one of the scanners sat in the port
0:10:47 > 0:10:51is not actually working as it hasn't been for five/six months?
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Yes, exactly.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59But I don't think it's a barrier to people importing illegal goods to Ukraine.
0:10:59 > 0:11:03Even when the scanner was working, it wasn't a big problem for them
0:11:03 > 0:11:07because their containers wouldn't be scanned.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13The thing that struck me the most was when he was saying
0:11:13 > 0:11:17that it's just common standard practice to have to pay to get your cargo through.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21Obviously that is not how a legitimate port is supposed to be run.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24To me, that's utterly mad. I find that...
0:11:24 > 0:11:25.astonishing.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30The port authorities deny bribery goes on
0:11:30 > 0:11:33and say cargos are physically examined
0:11:33 > 0:11:34if the scanners are not working.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47After only a few days here, I've already got a sense
0:11:47 > 0:11:50of how easily drugs can get into Ukraine.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55As well as cocaine from South America,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59heroin from Afghanistan, in the east, has also been trafficked
0:11:59 > 0:12:01to Ukraine's Black Sea coast.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09But then I witness something near the port, which makes me want
0:12:09 > 0:12:12to find out what happens to these drugs once they're here.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I've just come walking round the corner, I was about to hop
0:12:19 > 0:12:20in the crew car
0:12:20 > 0:12:24and the driver said that he saw
0:12:24 > 0:12:27a guy jump off the bridge,
0:12:27 > 0:12:28just behind us.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32He said, you know, he hit the ground, he's obviously dead
0:12:32 > 0:12:36and he says that the body was on the ground,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38there was like a doctor/paramedic type person
0:12:38 > 0:12:42and a few policemen hovering around.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46He saw the paramedic take a plastic bag
0:12:46 > 0:12:50with like a browny substance in that bag and say to the police,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52"Drugs".
0:12:52 > 0:12:54He absolutely heard that.
0:12:54 > 0:12:55To learn more about these drugs,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58I approach the police with my Ukrainian translator.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05He's asking where we are from. I'm from the BBC in London.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07BBC, London.
0:13:10 > 0:13:11What's he saying, Alessa?
0:13:11 > 0:13:14- He says, "No comments. Get out of here." - Get out of here, that's nice.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17Were there any drugs found on this man?
0:13:20 > 0:13:25The police are unwilling to answer any questions.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31But I'm keen to know if the drugs trafficked into Ukraine
0:13:31 > 0:13:34are behind incidents like the one I witnessed.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48I want to find out a bit more about the types of drugs
0:13:48 > 0:13:50that some people are using here in Ukraine.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I've arranged to meet a lady who works with a charity
0:13:53 > 0:13:59and it's an organisation who works alongside drug addicts.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Hello. Inna? How do you do?
0:14:01 > 0:14:03I'm Stacey. Nice to meet you.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06This is us today, are we going in?
0:14:19 > 0:14:26Inna tells me that cocaine and heroin are just too pricey for most Ukrainian drug users.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31She believes this helps push some users here towards cheaper alternatives.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45And what type of drugs are these people that you're working with, what are they taking?
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Boltushka is a dangerous chemical cocktail,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53made from prescription drugs and household products.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03So it's home-made?
0:15:09 > 0:15:12I want to know what taking these kinds of home-made drugs
0:15:12 > 0:15:16can do to addicts, so Inna takes me to where some live.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18It's this way?
0:15:20 > 0:15:23In a basement, under a block of flats.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28And it smells really...
0:15:28 > 0:15:29God, this is grim.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38God, I'm petrified.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48STACEY COUGHS
0:15:48 > 0:15:51We're underground, it's not safe...
0:15:54 > 0:15:56There's poo and flies everywhere.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00This is shocking.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06And water comes down, is that...
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The toilet's flushed and loads of water's just come down
0:16:10 > 0:16:13so they've got to deal with that as well.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15This is not fun!
0:16:20 > 0:16:21This is the bedroom.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30This is astonishing.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37I mean, I don't mean to state the obvious
0:16:37 > 0:16:40but it's just the most disgusting, minging, rancid place
0:16:40 > 0:16:42I've seen in a really, really long time.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45It's a really sad scene.
0:16:47 > 0:16:53You know, as if being addicted to a dirty, cheap, nasty...
0:16:53 > 0:16:57drug isn't horrifying enough,
0:16:57 > 0:17:00they've got these other factors to contend with.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Oh...!
0:17:07 > 0:17:09Oh!
0:17:09 > 0:17:13There is no-one in the basement, so Inna takes me to a roundabout,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16where a group of former drug users are living.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Hi!
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I'm Stacey.
0:17:22 > 0:17:24- Natasha.- Natasha.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26Nice to meet you all. This here is for you.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31Everyone here has abused home-made drugs heavily.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34And what drugs do you take, Natasha?
0:17:36 > 0:17:39How much does heroin cost in Ukraine
0:17:39 > 0:17:42and how much does the cheap alternative drug cost?
0:18:00 > 0:18:03With a batch of boltuskha costing around £5,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06compared to about 65 for heroin,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09I can see the appeal of home-made drugs for some addicts
0:18:09 > 0:18:12in a poor country like Ukraine.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17But there's a higher price to pay for these young people.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22Has it always been you guys as a unit or there have been other
0:18:22 > 0:18:24people that have stayed with you?
0:18:29 > 0:18:32And describe to me, Natasha, what runs through your mind
0:18:32 > 0:18:34when people that you used to live on the streets with
0:18:34 > 0:18:39and take drugs with, when they die, is it a wake-up call?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Boltuskha attacks the nervous system
0:18:52 > 0:18:55and is highly damaging,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58both mentally and physically.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03And you boys, you all took the same drug as Natasha?
0:19:06 > 0:19:08And what were the side effects for you?
0:19:18 > 0:19:20And you're able to walk?
0:19:28 > 0:19:30And before you started taking this cheaper drug,
0:19:30 > 0:19:33you were able to walk perfectly normal?
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Did this happen gradually, or did he wake up one morning
0:19:47 > 0:19:49and he couldn't use his arms and legs?
0:20:06 > 0:20:10It's really, really shocking stuff to see people in their late teens
0:20:10 > 0:20:11and mid-20s...
0:20:15 > 0:20:17..living like that.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21People sell heroin in the UK and they live in horrific
0:20:21 > 0:20:25environments and their lives are ruined
0:20:25 > 0:20:29and these people, I think, it's a next level down,
0:20:29 > 0:20:33if that's the right way to phrase it.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37I think these guys were only taking that cheap alternative
0:20:37 > 0:20:40for a couple of years and they started to lose the use of their limbs,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43they started to be partly paralysed,
0:20:43 > 0:20:48they've lost the ability to hold a conversation and...
0:20:48 > 0:20:52It's almost like they're not here, everything's in slow motion. It's...
0:20:53 > 0:20:55It's mad, it's...
0:20:55 > 0:20:57It's a shit situation.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04If Ukrainians are not taking the cocaine and heroin coming into their country...
0:21:06 > 0:21:09..I want to know where these drugs are going next.
0:21:11 > 0:21:15To try to find out, I'm going to meet a man from the Ukrainian criminal underworld.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Right now, I'm on my way to meet a chap who says
0:21:19 > 0:21:21he used to be involved with drug trafficking here in Ukraine.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25He's agreed to have a chat with me but he's adamant that he doesn't want his face shown.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29It'll be interesting, actually, because so far I've spoken to people on the other sides,
0:21:29 > 0:21:31so the custom officials, the people in uniform,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34whose job it is to try to get on top of this.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37To hear it from the other side, I'm looking forward to that.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44I've been told he was a drug smuggler for several years.
0:21:46 > 0:21:50To avoid attention, he requests we meet in a secluded area.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I didn't really anticipate this but, I think, he's here.
0:21:56 > 0:21:58There he is.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02Hello.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Listen, thanks for agreeing to speak to me,
0:22:06 > 0:22:08I really, really appreciate it. Thank you.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11What kind of drugs were you involved in smuggling in?
0:22:13 > 0:22:17Cocaine. What amounts are we talking, huge amounts?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24What did your job exactly involve?
0:22:37 > 0:22:41So it would be your job to go and collect the drugs from customs,
0:22:41 > 0:22:43drive it to another border,
0:22:43 > 0:22:48so it could then presumably go into Western Europe. Was that the idea?
0:22:49 > 0:22:53How difficult is it to smuggle cocaine from Ukraine into Europe?
0:23:13 > 0:23:15And is that what you used to do on a regular basis?
0:23:20 > 0:23:23He tells me one trafficking route he used out of Ukraine
0:23:23 > 0:23:26was across the border into a place called Transnistria.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29And why would you smuggle cocaine through Transnistria?
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Perhaps one of the most shocking things he said was, you know,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43as long as you've got enough money, you can pretty much do
0:23:43 > 0:23:45what you have to do, you can do as you please,
0:23:45 > 0:23:50you can bribe the officials and bribe the people that are supposed to be patrolling the border.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53They'll often turn a blind eye and you can get on with your business.
0:23:53 > 0:23:56He said that's how Ukraine works, that's how it goes on here,
0:23:56 > 0:24:00and there's lots of different routes to use to smuggle the cocaine into Europe.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03One route that he used was Transnistria.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07I don't know anything about this place so I'm definitely keen to find out a lot more.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I want to see what security is like on this border,
0:24:15 > 0:24:18so I follow the road out of Odessa towards Transnistria.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25The same route the ex-smuggler said he used
0:24:25 > 0:24:27to get cocaine out of Ukraine.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39After less than two hours drive, I arrive at a village,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41right on the edge of Ukraine.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49From here it's just over 100 miles through Transnistria
0:24:49 > 0:24:51to the European Union.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55I've been told that this place does have a reputation for smuggling.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58I'm desperate to have a chat with the people floating around.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01There's only a few, but I'd love to see what they've got to say.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14I approach the first young girl I see in the street.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19So are you aware of any smuggling that goes on here?
0:25:23 > 0:25:25OK...
0:25:25 > 0:25:30And were these guys from this village, outside of this village.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48And do you know if they were ever smuggling cocaine,
0:25:48 > 0:25:50or heroin or any other drugs?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57The first person I approached, she was really open.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01She was completely fine with talking about it.
0:26:01 > 0:26:06I think her kind of trail of thought was that everyone round here knows about it, everyone knows it goes on.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10Yeah, she knows it goes on for sure.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23To understand why Ukraine's border with Transnistria is seen as attractive to smugglers,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25I arrange to meet a journalist.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Hello.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31- Hello, Sasha? How's things? I'm Stacey.- Hi, nice to meet you.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36- Very pleased to meet you. Thank you so much for agreeing to take me to this border.- Yeah.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Sasha's been covering this region for seven years.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42Sasha, so tell me a bit about Transnistria.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44I've never heard of this place.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47It used to be part of Moldova and they broke away
0:26:47 > 0:26:51and they are just not recognised by any country in the world.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54It's like a non-existing state.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58- That's quite a unique position to be in.- It is.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Do the officials in Transnistria talk to the officials in Ukraine and Moldova?
0:27:07 > 0:27:08Not really.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12It's vital, surely, for neighbouring countries,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15and neighbouring borders, to be in constant contact with one another,
0:27:15 > 0:27:17to try and keep on top of smuggling.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20True, but that's not the case here, unfortunately.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23And what does that mean for a place like this?
0:27:23 > 0:27:26It has this charm of being
0:27:26 > 0:27:30a paradise for smugglers.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34It has even this term, "Black Hole".
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- People refer to it as the Black Hole?- Yeah.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42Sasha tells me the European Union has helped Ukraine beef up security
0:27:42 > 0:27:45on this part of its border, although we see no sign of patrols.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49So we're stood on the very, very edge of Ukraine.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54I mean, I feel confident that I could just walk across to Transnistria now.
0:27:54 > 0:27:55I'd fancy my chances.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Transnistria is not the only route
0:27:59 > 0:28:03for smuggling cocaine and heroin out of Ukraine into the rest of Europe.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13Ukraine also has roughly 700 miles of direct border
0:28:13 > 0:28:17with four different European Union countries.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20This huge distance offers lots of possible routes for traffickers.
0:28:20 > 0:28:25I'm heading to the part of the border that Ukraine shares with Poland.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28I'm going to be spending some time at one of the main crossing points there
0:28:28 > 0:28:31and I'm really curious, actually, to see what security's like
0:28:31 > 0:28:35up there because this is a direct border into the European Union.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59My journey will take me around 500 miles inland.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13I arrive at one of the busiest checkpoints in Ukraine.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20Here alone, up to 2,000 vehicles a day cross into the European Union.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25Before I'm shown around, I get quite a reception from the officials.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42My name's Stacey and I'm making a documentary for BBC Three.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05With so many security agencies here,
0:30:05 > 0:30:09I want to know about the drugs they have seized leaving Ukraine.
0:30:09 > 0:30:13Have you ever caught cocaine or heroin
0:30:13 > 0:30:17travelling across the border on its way into Poland?
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Is that a concern for you, given how many thousands
0:30:25 > 0:30:29and thousands of vehicles are crossing this border?
0:30:42 > 0:30:45I don't know if that means it's certainly not going through.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48It might mean that they've just been able to get past
0:30:48 > 0:30:50two hurdles instead of one.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01100% guarantee that no drugs, no cocaine or no heroin,
0:31:01 > 0:31:04has ever passed this crossing point. Seriously?
0:31:13 > 0:31:16You know, drugs are smuggled across borders internationally
0:31:16 > 0:31:19all the time, and a lot of the drugs, they make it over
0:31:19 > 0:31:22successfully, so with all that said, I do find it quite surprising
0:31:22 > 0:31:28that the guys sat in there can be so confident and so categoric.
0:31:28 > 0:31:30What makes this so unique and different?
0:31:38 > 0:31:40I wonder if the checkpoint uses
0:31:40 > 0:31:42some particularly hi tech search methods.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45I'm invited to see things in action.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48So the basic idea, if I'm understanding correctly,
0:31:48 > 0:31:52is when there's ever loads and loads of bags,
0:31:52 > 0:31:56they'll stick this tool in and the idea is that it's got
0:31:56 > 0:32:00a couple of holes going through it,
0:32:00 > 0:32:02and all these holes should look black,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04cos this is all coal.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07So if they pull it out and there's a white substance
0:32:07 > 0:32:11or a different colour, alarm bells will start ringing.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14They find nothing illegal in this truck.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19The official also tells me that most trucks he searches
0:32:19 > 0:32:21are unlikely to be trafficking drugs,
0:32:21 > 0:32:24because they use the border crossing regularly.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28Just playing devil's advocate, drug dealers will target people
0:32:28 > 0:32:31who they know make a journey fairly frequently.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Lots of people don't necessarily look at them
0:32:34 > 0:32:36as being as suspicious as others.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Just wondering what you thought about that?
0:32:53 > 0:32:55The majority of the vehicles crossing here
0:32:55 > 0:32:57are given a basic visual check.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00But some get a more detailed inspection.
0:33:00 > 0:33:04And Natalya, will you show me a more thorough inspection now,
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- can I see a deeper inspection? - Yes, of course.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13This car has been pulled out from the traffic jam
0:33:13 > 0:33:15because they have reason.
0:33:15 > 0:33:20Customs officers and guards want to check this certain car deeper.
0:33:20 > 0:33:24I ask how often vehicles are given this more thorough inspection.
0:33:24 > 0:33:32For example, yesterday, 2,652 vehicles leaving the country
0:33:32 > 0:33:33and entering the country.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38- Right, and out of them, how many were searched in this manner?- 38.
0:33:38 > 0:33:43OK, so you deep searched just over 1% of the cars.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Tomorrow it can be 50%.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Yesterday it happened that it was 1%.
0:33:48 > 0:33:5350% is probably unrealistic, because 1%-50% is a big jump.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55Maybe 2%, 3%.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57It depends.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00And have you got any statistics that we can have a look at
0:34:00 > 0:34:02to show the amount of vehicles that have passed through here
0:34:02 > 0:34:05and how many have been deeper inspected?
0:34:05 > 0:34:09- I don't have such numbers. - Do they exist?
0:34:09 > 0:34:13I don't know. My commanders can be asked.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16I don't think, because we focus on results.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19But you haven't had any results. That's the problem, isn't it?
0:34:19 > 0:34:22You haven't found any cocaine or any heroin.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26Each of these guys who are car searching are trying to find it.
0:34:26 > 0:34:27Yeah, but...
0:34:27 > 0:34:30It may be fortunately that people don't transport
0:34:30 > 0:34:33narcotics through the Ukrainian border.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37That is why we didn't find anything. It's quite possible.
0:34:37 > 0:34:39Well, maybe you aren't finding them because of your tactics.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Maybe. Maybe our tactics is not excellent.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Maybe you will advise us something.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47It's not my job to advise you.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Thank you.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52Nothing illegal is found in this vehicle
0:34:52 > 0:34:54and the women are free to go.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58They sort of really tried to hammer the point home for me
0:34:58 > 0:35:01that they're doing a great, thorough job
0:35:01 > 0:35:05and they just don't believe coke and heroin is an issue here.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Given that there are thousands of vehicles
0:35:08 > 0:35:11going through this crossing point every day,
0:35:11 > 0:35:16I'd quite fancy my chances if I knew that there was 98-99% chance
0:35:16 > 0:35:20that I wasn't going to have my vehicle thoroughly searched.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Cocaine and heroin are not the only narcotics
0:35:27 > 0:35:29spreading west out of Ukraine.
0:35:31 > 0:35:35I'm heading to the capital Kiev to investigate a horrific new drug
0:35:35 > 0:35:39which I've heard has also reached Western Europe.
0:35:46 > 0:35:48OK, so I'm here outside a charity.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50I'm going to spend some time with them.
0:35:50 > 0:35:52It's their job to help people
0:35:52 > 0:35:54who are taking a dangerous new drug here,
0:35:54 > 0:35:58and apparently it's been reported that this same drug has been found
0:35:58 > 0:36:00across the border in Western Europe.
0:36:00 > 0:36:01So it'll be interesting.
0:36:10 > 0:36:15Jena and Elena set up this charity in 2010,
0:36:15 > 0:36:17when they discovered this new drug, called Crocodile,
0:36:17 > 0:36:20was killing users at an alarming rate.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23So this is the leaflet that you give out, right?
0:36:26 > 0:36:28And why is this drug called crocodile?
0:36:37 > 0:36:41And if someone becomes very addicted to crocodile very quickly,
0:36:41 > 0:36:44how long realistically can they expect to live?
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Is that right?
0:37:00 > 0:37:04Where I'm from, crocodile is almost unheard of.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11Elena tells me two British policewomen recently visited her
0:37:11 > 0:37:13to talk about crocodile.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20These two police ladies came from England
0:37:20 > 0:37:22and came and spoke to you personally?
0:37:23 > 0:37:25And what was your advice?
0:37:49 > 0:37:51The fact that they've had two British cops
0:37:51 > 0:37:53sat in that same room asking them about crocodile
0:37:53 > 0:37:56and trying to get advice is utterly astonishing.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59The only reason I'm familiar with crocodile is because
0:37:59 > 0:38:00I'm here in Ukraine looking at it.
0:38:00 > 0:38:03If I'd have spoken to people at home about it or tried to meet
0:38:03 > 0:38:06people who had taken it in England, I think I'd struggle.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10But it obviously does exist, else they wouldn't have been there.
0:38:10 > 0:38:11It's alarming. It's a crazy thought.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25I want to find out more about the effects of this drug,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29which British police are worried has now reached the UK.
0:38:33 > 0:38:34I follow Jena and Elena
0:38:34 > 0:38:38as they visit some regular users, Igor and Sasha.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43Igor, how old are you?
0:38:43 > 0:38:47- Ten plus ten plus ten.- 30?- Yeah.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50How long have you taken crocodile?
0:38:50 > 0:38:51Crocodile? Two years.
0:38:51 > 0:38:53Crocodile, two years.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57Tell me what you know about crocodile, the dangers.
0:39:08 > 0:39:13So you know that the life expectancy for a crocodile user is very short.
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Yes, I know.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24If you don't stop using crocodile, what do you think will happen?
0:39:24 > 0:39:25I will die.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31Does that not make you sad?
0:39:32 > 0:39:33- No.- Why?
0:39:33 > 0:39:37- Because. - HE LAUGHS
0:39:39 > 0:39:40You're not scared to die?
0:39:40 > 0:39:42No.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55Igor and Sasha start making a batch of crocodile.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00How did you learn to make it?
0:40:01 > 0:40:03The street, on the street.
0:40:03 > 0:40:05- The street.- Yes.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- Is that to unblock toilets?- Yes.
0:40:20 > 0:40:26And so Igor's just telling me that bleach and petrol are used
0:40:26 > 0:40:31as parts of the process to make the crocodile,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33which is quite a grim thought, no?
0:40:33 > 0:40:35It's... shocking.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42These chemicals are mixed with tablets, bought in the chemist.
0:40:42 > 0:40:46We've had to put masks on because the smell can be quite dangerous
0:40:46 > 0:40:49and it's really massively overwhelming.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52But Igor doesn't want to wear one because he says he's used to it.
0:40:53 > 0:40:54It's quite grim now.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04The further on the process goes,
0:41:04 > 0:41:09the stronger the smell actually gets, it's massively overwhelming.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12I can't begin to tell you how offensive it is.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15Oh, it smells, man.
0:41:18 > 0:41:19That's strong. Oof!
0:41:24 > 0:41:27I mean, the longer we spend in here,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29the more grim it becomes, to be honest.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33The smell is massively unbearable.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Their abscesses, Igor has one on his back,
0:41:36 > 0:41:42they keep bleeding and pussing, so they're in pain.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57Five months maximum? To live?
0:41:57 > 0:41:59Five, six months and dead.
0:42:10 > 0:42:11I'm OK.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18It's just sad, isn't it? No, I'm OK.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22They are going to...
0:42:22 > 0:42:24They're going to inject?
0:42:24 > 0:42:26Yes. We're going to inject.
0:42:34 > 0:42:37The end product is a highly toxic cocktail,
0:42:37 > 0:42:41which slowly rots human flesh and bone.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52The high is a sedative effect like heroin,
0:42:52 > 0:42:55but it lasts for a much shorter time.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Just genuinely, truly...
0:43:11 > 0:43:14..one of the most horrific things I've ever witnessed.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19You know, they give Igor
0:43:19 > 0:43:22five or six months left before he's dead.
0:43:24 > 0:43:28His abscesses are bleeding and pussing constantly...
0:43:30 > 0:43:34..and then he just goes and, like, shoots up.
0:43:34 > 0:43:40Young lads are taking crocodile,
0:43:40 > 0:43:43a cheap, dirty, nasty drug...
0:43:44 > 0:43:46..as an alternative...
0:43:48 > 0:43:49..and dying.
0:43:55 > 0:43:57SHE SNIFFS
0:44:05 > 0:44:10I've seen how Ukraine has problems with lethal home-made drugs,
0:44:10 > 0:44:12and as a smuggling route for cocaine and heroin
0:44:12 > 0:44:14heading to Western Europe.
0:44:18 > 0:44:21When I look into whether locals are pressuring the government
0:44:21 > 0:44:22to sort these things out,
0:44:22 > 0:44:26I discover some are resorting to extraordinary methods.
0:44:27 > 0:44:30I've heard there's a protest going on today here in Kiev.
0:44:30 > 0:44:33Apparently these aren't your typical protesters.
0:44:33 > 0:44:36They shout quite a lot about corruption and the drug problems
0:44:36 > 0:44:39that happen here, so I'm going to go and meet them.
0:44:45 > 0:44:50Hello. How are you? What's your name?
0:44:53 > 0:44:54Brilliant, I'm going to follow you.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04Darth Vader and his Stormtroopers are a group of activists
0:45:04 > 0:45:07who campaign about big issues in Ukraine
0:45:07 > 0:45:09by pulling stunts on the authorities.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13Darth? Darth?
0:45:15 > 0:45:18I'm chasing Darth Vader. Another day at the office.
0:45:20 > 0:45:22So it's actually becoming a little bit tricky
0:45:22 > 0:45:25trying to have a conversation with Darth.
0:45:25 > 0:45:29I think he's obviously the man in charge,
0:45:29 > 0:45:31but he takes his role very seriously.
0:45:33 > 0:45:37The group may not look serious, but their aims certainly are.
0:45:37 > 0:45:40Today, they are delivering a letter to the government,
0:45:40 > 0:45:43complaining about the failure to deal with drug problems.
0:45:45 > 0:45:49So we're approaching a very official looking building.
0:45:51 > 0:45:52There's loads of police up here,
0:45:52 > 0:45:56so it will be interesting to see how they welcome Darth.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15Someone's coming through now, I don't know who this is.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26After hearing Darth's list of complaints,
0:46:26 > 0:46:28the official takes the letter.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38I'm from the BBC. Can you just tell me whether or not
0:46:38 > 0:46:41that will be delivered to the prime minister, that letter?
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Sorry, but we are not commenting.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45- No comment at all?- That's all.
0:46:45 > 0:46:47- OK. Thank you.- Goodbye.
0:46:52 > 0:46:54I manage to speak to Darth Vader,
0:46:54 > 0:46:58although he refuses to reveal his identity.
0:46:58 > 0:47:02He says he does not want it to become known to the authorities.
0:47:02 > 0:47:04And ultimately, what do you hope to achieve?
0:47:04 > 0:47:07What do you want to happen because you're out doing this?
0:47:26 > 0:47:29And why all the get-up? Why are you dressed as Darth Vader?
0:47:29 > 0:47:32Would people take you more seriously if you were just your standard self?
0:47:36 > 0:47:37Nice to meet you, Darth.
0:47:37 > 0:47:39Good luck.
0:47:41 > 0:47:42Bye, Darth!
0:47:44 > 0:47:45Bye!
0:47:48 > 0:47:51I mean, it is a concern that there are only about 15 of them
0:47:51 > 0:47:54who are out trying to make a real difference
0:47:54 > 0:47:57when it comes to such a serious issue.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00I mean, obviously, he's slightly loopy in the sense that
0:48:00 > 0:48:04he genuinely believes he's Darth Vader, but you know what?
0:48:04 > 0:48:06He's passionate and you know, they're young lads
0:48:06 > 0:48:10that are fed up of all the drugs problems they've got going on,
0:48:10 > 0:48:13so at least they're trying to do something.
0:48:16 > 0:48:19It's clear that lots of Ukrainians just don't have faith
0:48:19 > 0:48:24in their government to sort out any problems, drugs included.
0:48:27 > 0:48:30To get to the bottom of why this is,
0:48:30 > 0:48:33I arrange to meet a former drug enforcement officer.
0:48:36 > 0:48:37- Hello, Pavlo?- Hi.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40- How's things? I'm Stacey. - I'm glad to see you.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42Nice to meet you. This is you?
0:48:42 > 0:48:44- Yeah.- Spot on. Thank you.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46After 12 years in the police,
0:48:46 > 0:48:50Pavlo now works for a charity as a drugs policy expert.
0:48:50 > 0:48:52How effective are the police
0:48:52 > 0:48:55at tackling this drug issue here in Ukraine?
0:48:57 > 0:48:59I would say they're totally ineffective,
0:48:59 > 0:49:02and unfortunately, in my country,
0:49:02 > 0:49:10about 60 or 70% of the population - they don't trust the police.
0:49:10 > 0:49:14Especially because the police are the main source
0:49:14 > 0:49:16of human rights violations.
0:49:16 > 0:49:20They're corrupted, they don't obey the law.
0:49:20 > 0:49:24That's an insane thought, surely, that the very people
0:49:24 > 0:49:27who you're supposed to trust...
0:49:27 > 0:49:29Most people are afraid of the police.
0:49:29 > 0:49:34It was one of the reasons why I left the police service in 2004,
0:49:34 > 0:49:41because it was impossible to work in this criminal system, you know?
0:49:41 > 0:49:48The police became even bigger criminals than organised crime.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51As an example, Pavlo takes me to a police station
0:49:51 > 0:49:53recently hit by scandal.
0:49:54 > 0:50:01So now we approach the district police station.
0:50:01 > 0:50:07This station became one of the famous in Kiev last year
0:50:07 > 0:50:13when the security service arrested a whole drug enforcement unit
0:50:13 > 0:50:15in this police station.
0:50:15 > 0:50:21They were arrested for arranging drug trafficking in Kiev city.
0:50:21 > 0:50:25This drug enforcement unit was considered one of the best
0:50:25 > 0:50:28police drug enforcement units in Kiev city.
0:50:28 > 0:50:31So where were they supposed to be keeping all these drugs?
0:50:31 > 0:50:36In the police station, in the garage boxes and inside the offices.
0:50:36 > 0:50:38It sounds like it's fictional.
0:50:38 > 0:50:43I can't believe that police officers were behaving in such a way.
0:50:43 > 0:50:44Yes, it's unbelievable,
0:50:44 > 0:50:47and it's a reality here in Ukraine, unfortunately.
0:50:47 > 0:50:52As yet, no trial date has been set for these policemen,
0:50:52 > 0:50:53who deny the charges.
0:50:55 > 0:50:58I mean, I've been here looking at the international drug trafficking,
0:50:58 > 0:51:02and it just strikes me talking to you that some people
0:51:02 > 0:51:09may think it's hugely unlikely that anyone of authority here in Ukraine
0:51:09 > 0:51:12is going to be able to seriously tackle such an issue.
0:51:12 > 0:51:16Unfortunately, you are right, because we have corruption
0:51:16 > 0:51:20in all levels of government in Ukraine,
0:51:20 > 0:51:24from the ground level to the high level.
0:51:24 > 0:51:26Is anything being done by anyone?
0:51:26 > 0:51:30There are lots of really good police officers
0:51:30 > 0:51:35and we have some real cases of international police operations
0:51:35 > 0:51:39with lots of drug seizures
0:51:39 > 0:51:42somewhere in the sea port or on the border.
0:51:42 > 0:51:44But it's just only, like...
0:51:46 > 0:51:47A drop in the ocean?
0:51:47 > 0:51:50Yeah, a drop in the... yeah, really, you are correct.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54And it's not solving the issue.
0:51:56 > 0:51:58Everything Pavlo told me just completely blew me away.
0:51:58 > 0:52:02He said that he believes that police are often at the heart
0:52:02 > 0:52:04of these massive drug problems here.
0:52:04 > 0:52:08They're not just dabbling or taking an opportunity here or there,
0:52:08 > 0:52:11they're in charge, they're the biggest players,
0:52:11 > 0:52:12they're all over the scene.
0:52:17 > 0:52:21During my trip to Ukraine, Pavlo is not the only person
0:52:21 > 0:52:25to link corrupt officials with the country's different drug problems.
0:52:26 > 0:52:30So I want to speak to the people who are supposed to be sorting out
0:52:30 > 0:52:32this massive corruption issue.
0:52:32 > 0:52:35So many people have mentioned that corruption is at the heart
0:52:35 > 0:52:38of all the drug dealing and all the drug trafficking that goes on here,
0:52:38 > 0:52:39so I'm going to speak to somebody
0:52:39 > 0:52:42from the security services' anti-corruption unit
0:52:42 > 0:52:45and just try and find out why he thinks it hasn't been dealt with.
0:52:47 > 0:52:50Thank you. Hello.
0:52:50 > 0:52:53How do you do? Stacey.
0:52:53 > 0:52:57Bogdan Sokrut works closely with the chief of this anti-corruption
0:52:57 > 0:52:58and organised crime unit.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01Corruption is widely documented to be
0:53:01 > 0:53:03a very, very serious problem here.
0:53:03 > 0:53:08I spoke to a guy who worked at the Odessa port and he told me
0:53:08 > 0:53:11that it's just standard to have to bribe people
0:53:11 > 0:53:13to ensure that your cargo goes through.
0:53:13 > 0:53:15How do you respond to that?
0:53:36 > 0:53:39It's your job to try and end corruption.
0:53:39 > 0:53:40How do you plan on doing that?
0:53:53 > 0:53:56But no-one's suggesting that it's something
0:53:56 > 0:53:58that can be mended or fixed quickly.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01Evidently, the way you're trying to tackle corruption now
0:54:01 > 0:54:03isn't working, is it?
0:54:10 > 0:54:12Do you believe that the border controls
0:54:12 > 0:54:16and all the things that they have in place in Odessa are good enough?
0:54:19 > 0:54:23There's got to be some reason that certain cartels
0:54:23 > 0:54:26from South America are taking this massive detour
0:54:26 > 0:54:29past Western Europe where they want the drugs to get into
0:54:29 > 0:54:31to come in through Ukraine.
0:54:51 > 0:54:54No seizures doesn't mean no drugs, though, does it?
0:54:58 > 0:54:59It doesn't, does it?
0:55:06 > 0:55:08That's a very...
0:55:11 > 0:55:13Very optimistic!
0:55:13 > 0:55:15Probably a bit unrealistic, but very optimistic.
0:55:22 > 0:55:26I've met lots of optimistic officials during my time in Ukraine.
0:55:26 > 0:55:28But with my visit nearly over,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31I can't understand how they can be so certain that Ukraine is
0:55:31 > 0:55:35winning its war against international drug trafficking.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40I think you have to be fair and point out that, you know,
0:55:40 > 0:55:42Ukraine isn't the only country in Eastern Europe
0:55:42 > 0:55:44that's being used as a transit country
0:55:44 > 0:55:46to get drugs into Western Europe,
0:55:46 > 0:55:49but I've been up and down the country, and I've got to say,
0:55:49 > 0:55:53I understand completely why some people describe Ukraine
0:55:53 > 0:55:55as a perfect transit country.
0:55:55 > 0:55:58Geographically, it's perfect for smugglers.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01This country shares its border with countries
0:56:01 > 0:56:04that are part of the European Union.
0:56:04 > 0:56:06The level of corruption is staggering,
0:56:06 > 0:56:10people of authority abusing their position.
0:56:10 > 0:56:13I think it's a given that unless things change here,
0:56:13 > 0:56:17we can expect to see Ukraine being used as a transit country
0:56:17 > 0:56:19to get drugs, dangerous, serious drugs,
0:56:19 > 0:56:21into the UK for a very long time.
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